The latest on California politics and government

November 6, 2010

Termed-out Assemblyman Ted Lieu has announced he will seek to replace late Democratic Sen. Jenny Oropoeza in the 28th Senate District.seat.

Oropeza, of Long Beach, died unexpectedly last month, but her name remained on the Nov. 2 ballot and won the most votes this week. A special election to fill the seat will be called next month when new members are sworn in.

Lieu, 41, a Democrat who formerly served on the Torrance City Council, said in an interview that he filed papers Wednesday forming a committee and has begun organizing a Senate campaign. ....

Announcing a run for the seat of a deceased senator and personal friend requires a delicate approach, Lieu acknowledged, so he eschewed a traditional news conference to launch his bid.

"I didn't think that was appropriate," said Lieu, the son of Taiwanese immigrants and a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserve's Judge Advocate General's Corps.

The Torrance Democrat told the paper that the 53rd Assembly District he represents overlaps with 56 percent of voters in Oropeza's district.

According to the paper, Assemblyman Warren Furutani, D-Gardena, and Los Angeles Councilwoman Janice Hahn, a Democrat, are also considering a run.

The special election, which will be held early next year, will be the first election conducted using the voter-approved "top two" system. That means voters in the heavily Democratic district could see two Democrats competing in a run-off election.